ASU’s Byrnes leads British Open local qualifying

Arizona State’s James Byrne shot 68 Monday at Western Gailes in Scotland and leads after the first round of Local Final Qualifying for the British Open. The second round will be held Tuesday, with four players apiece qualifying from three sites.

Byrne has been having a strong summer in his natve country. In June, he won the Tennant Cup by seven strokes, then won the East of Scotland Amateur by eight after posting a 22-under 262 total (65-63-67-67). Byrne’s Arizona State teammate, Scott Pinckney, was runner-up; Pinckney, an American, is spending the summer with his teammate to play links golf.

Byrne also made the Round of 16 at the British Amateur and tied for fourth in the Scottish Open Amateur Stroke Play.